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Paralyzed Navy Veteran Propelled into Dance

Dwayne Scheuneman is a Navy veteran who was paralyzed after a diving accident.  But thanks to his drive and determination, he has become a successful wheelchair athlete – most recently winning four gold medals and three silver medals in track and field at the 2013 National Veterans Wheelchair Games.

Despite his athletic success, Scheuneman is more comfortable on the dance floor than the racetrack. But it opens him up to some friendly teasing from other veterans.

“In the beginning, I did get a lot of razzing being a dancer at the veterans’ games. But at the end, everyone respected it when I was running around with my four gold medals,” Scheuneman said.

For him, dance is not a competition. It is a collaboration.

Yet, it did get a little competitive during the creation of the dance piece, “Propel,” featuring Scheuneman and three other male dancers.

“It’s like an all-male piece and it really shows the strength of all the men in the company,” said Leymis Bolanos Wilmott, choreographer of “Propel.” “And it almost became like this little competition amongst the guys in the company and Dwayne as we were creating the piece.”

Belanos Wilmott, artistic director of Fuzion Dance Artists, created the piece last year for her company and Scheuneman.

Dancers Jahrel Thompson, Dwayne Scheuneman, Rolando Cabrera and Benjamin Howe listen to instructions from choreographer Lemis Bolanos Wilmott.
WUSF Public Media
Dancers Jahrel Thompson, Dwayne Scheuneman, Rolando Cabrera and Benjamin Howe listen to instructions from choreographer Lemis Bolanos Wilmott.

“The piece is very physical and I think it’s very strong, but I think it also shows different moments where they’re encouraging someone else to propel – or maybe someone’s stuck and encouraging them to move forward,” Bolanos Wilmott said.

“Propel” is a mixture of athleticism and grace --- break dance and modern dance. At one point, a performer leaps over Scheuneman in his chair - at another - Scheuneman is lifted, his wheelchair and all. The male dancers, Jahrel Thompson, Benjamin Howe and Rolando Cabrera are equally fluid and as fast as Scheuneman in his chair.

REVolutions Dance, Scheuneman’s company, is presenting “Synergy,” the evening of modern dance which includes other works like a duet choreographed by Carolina Garcia Serpa and her husband. It’s their first major work together and she’s excited to share the bill with a wheelchair dancer.

“What it brings to the audience is the opening of the mind,” Garcia Serpa said. “It’s amazing how limited people’s minds are as far as what people can actually do. The moment I say I danced with a man in a wheelchair they’re like – that’s a contradiction … movement is movement.”

The Moving Current Dance Collective is the third company contributing to the production.

“Synergy” will be performed Saturday, Oct. 19, at 8 p.m. at the Hillsborough Community College Performing Arts Building, Palm Ave. and 15th St., Ybor City.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ft7-v2V7Qws&feature=share&list=UUsN1ZItTKcJ4AGsBIni35gg

Dwayne Scheuneman and his choreographer Lemis Bolanos Wilmott talk over details of the upcoming performance.
Bobbie O'Brien / WUSF Public Media
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WUSF Public Media
Dwayne Scheuneman and his choreographer Lemis Bolanos Wilmott talk over details of the upcoming performance.
Jahrel Thompson, one of the four male dancers in the piece "Propel" readies the music for rehearsal.
Bobbie O'Brien / WUSF Public Media
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WUSF Public Media
Jahrel Thompson, one of the four male dancers in the piece "Propel" readies the music for rehearsal.
Dwayne Scheuneman and Rolando Cabrera do warm-ups prior to rehearsing their piece, "Propel."
Bobbie O'Brien / WUSF Public Media
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WUSF Public Media
Dwayne Scheuneman and Rolando Cabrera do warm-ups prior to rehearsing their piece, "Propel."
Jahrel Thompson, Dwayne Scheuneman, Rolando Cabrera and Benjamin Howe - the four dancers in "Propel," listen as their rehearsal is critiqued by choreographer Lemis Bolanos Wilmott.
Bobbie O'Brien / WUSF Public Media
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WUSF Public Media
Jahrel Thompson, Dwayne Scheuneman, Rolando Cabrera and Benjamin Howe - the four dancers in "Propel," listen as their rehearsal is critiqued by choreographer Lemis Bolanos Wilmott.
The four male dancers in "Propel" listen to directions at rehearsal.
Bobbie O'Brien / WUSF Public Media
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WUSF Public Media
The four male dancers in "Propel" listen to directions at rehearsal.
Choreographers Lemis Bolanos Wilmott (left) and Carolina Garcia Serpa.
Bobbie O'Brien / WUSF Public Media
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WUSF Public Media
Choreographers Lemis Bolanos Wilmott (left) and Carolina Garcia Serpa.

Copyright 2013 WUSF Public Media - WUSF 89.7

Carol Gentry, founder and special correspondent of Health News Florida, has four decades of experience covering health finance and policy, with an emphasis on consumer education and protection.
Bobbie O’Brien has been a Reporter/Producer at WUSF since 1991. She reports on general news topics in Florida and the Tampa Bay region.